I made this recipe today and although I won’t try them until tonight after dinner, with all the butter, sugar and apples in the recipe, I am sure these are going to be delicious. 
This recipe has a lot of steps because you have to make the crust, the filling and the crumble top so be prepared to spend some time making these bars.
http://www.workingmother.com/food-nutrition/twice-nice-recipe-ideas
If you are like me, you are pretty skeptical of contests (yet, I seem to enter them anyways). The joy of entering a contest is the “dream factor” that results from hitting the “submit” button. Even the smallest prize can bring happiness because the pervasive thought of “nothing ventured, nothing gained”, takes hold.
Back in February, I had some down time and submitted an entry for a “Roaster for the Day” prize. I love to learn how to make stuff and roasting coffee beans has been on my list of things to learn, now that I have mastered bread, yogurt, ice cream and cheese making. But, as usual, because I move at a rapid pace, I hit enter and forgot about it. That is until Monday afternoon when I received a call that said I had won.
Wow, I won?! The last thing I won was in 1995 when my name was called at a manager meeting. I won a leather jacket for the now-defunct company, Side1. I returned home with my prize and one of my employees salivated over the jacket. I ended up giving it to her–she wanted it so much.
But coffee roasting with a mission is right up my alley. There were 300+ entries for this prize so I feel pretty special and grateful. Especially since I get to bring three friends along. I also get to pick and name my roast, because Happy Cup will make bags with my custom name. My husband suggested Turkish Phenomena Roast or Turkish Tornado Morning Hit Roast…ah, he knows me too well. I also expect a year of caffeinated nirvana given the prize comes with 52 bags of coffee beans.
If you are not familiar with Happy Cup Roasting, check them out. They are focused on giving people with potential, opportunities. I have been a 12 year volunteer at Dress for Success and love helping women gain self-sufficiency, so their mission really “speaks” to me. So in the end, happiness and doing good can all be found in a cup of coffee!
I will keep you posted on my roasting adventure!
Yesterday my mother-in-law gave me some rhubarb from her garden. I could not wait today to make my favorite recipe: Rhubarb Crumble from a 2009 issue of Oprah Magazine. It was so good, I even gave some to my neighbors!
http://www.oprah.com/food/Rhubarb-Crumble
Your Brain on Apps was another interesting article in CLO’s April 2012 issue:
http://www.smsepub.com/publication/frame.php?i=103474
Read the article to learn more about how mobile learning should be used to support formal learning and provide performance support. Since “humans work much better with smaller chunks” (of information) over time, mobile learning is an obvious solution for job aids, checklists, references and other performance support tools made available just-in-time.
CLO’s April 2012 magazine had a great article on the benefits of coaching as a leadership development tool. There is a difference between general performance based coaching which happens on a daily basis and executive coaching which is tied to a senior leader’s strategic goals. Either way, both types of coaching is focused on changing behavior and skill development and requires a committed partnership mindset.
According to Edwards, there is a “six step process for effective executive coaching engagements:
Read the entire article and additional info: http://www.smsepub.com/publication/frame.php?i=103474
Another helpful article from Pro Edit on keyboard shortcuts. Save time by tapping into these shortcuts: http://www.proedit.com/articles/keyboard_shortcuts.asp
I just returned from a trip to Southern California. Spring flowers were everywhere so I took lots of pictures. I miss the sunshine already!
I really liked this article from ProEdit: http://www.proedit.com/articles/6_Alternatives_to_Bullet_lists.asp
I recently met with some business owners that are interested in developing training for senior citizens in retirement communities. They wanted insight on how “best” to teach senior citizens computer skills. I have taught lots of older folks computer skills while developing and delivering technology training for the Multnomah County Library system. A few things I learned were to create large-type handouts. It is important that your older learners can see and read the handouts. Additionally, increase the font size on the computer screen if possible. And make sure you have handouts the are detailed and descriptive so that your learners can practice their new skills when they get back to their rooms.
At the beginning of each session, I explain that they “cannot break the computer”. I think one of the most important things you can do, as the facilitator to ensure success in your classroom, is to dispel the fear that people have with computers. Patience, on your part, is a critical skill to have, also. You might have to repeat yourself several times and remember to speak slowly. I found an online article with a few more tips. Read it here.
What other tips and tricks can you share about teaching seniors? What other accommodations have you made to ensure success in your classroom for your older learners?
In this world of high drama and quick turnarounds, we are asked to write a lot of documents with all sorts of information. I, too, write on a daily basis and have taught technical writing in a college classroom setting. One of the biggest challenges for writers seems to be conciseness. We want to fill the page with every word we know. So here is a little quiz. Email me if you want the answers!
Change the phrases below to make them more concise.
seniyegroff 